Background: Born in Merced, Calif., pitched at Merced Junior College and makes his offseason home in Merced. Drafted in the 25th round by Seattle in 1995. Traded to the Rockies before the 2002 season, along with Denny Stark and Jose Paniagua, for Jeff Cirillo. Fuentes straight up for Cirillo makes this one of general manager Dan O’Dowd’s best trades.
What’s up: Fuentes is the Rockies’ lone representative at the All-Star Game in Detroit.
Stat line: Since getting promoted to closer May 19, Fuentes has allowed just four runs in 20 appearances (1.64 ERA) while converting 11-of-12 save opportunities. He has 32 strikeouts in 22 innings during that span.
What’s next: If he continues to efficiently close in the second half, the arbitration-eligible Fuentes will be in line for a multiyear contract extension.
Klis’ take: I don’t understand criticism of the all-star rule assuring each team be represented by at least one player. It is an exhibition, for gosh sakes. And because of baseball’s everyday nature, its appeal during the regular season doesn’t stretch much beyond the local team. Growing up, no kid in the neighborhood loved baseball more than I did, but my primary interest in the All-Star Game was how the Cubs’ players fared. Besides, Fuentes hasn’t just been decent, he has been dominant. Improved command of an off-speed, breaking pitch – a requirement against right-handed batters – is what allowed the lefty to make the leap from setup to closer. He has also shown the inner toughness to handle the pressure of the ninth – an inning that has melted the more talented Octavio Dotel, LaTroy Hawkins and Guillermo Mota. “I don’t feel any more pressure pitching the ninth because I always felt the same type of pressure pitching the eighth,” Fuentes said. “Before, the seventh or eighth innings were my ninth inning.” In a long list of Rockies closers, none instilled confidence that the game was over like Fuentes. He has already had 13 zero-baserunner outings in 44 games this season, four in his 12 save situations. Last season’s closer, Shawn Chacon, had just eight clean outings in 66 games, six in 44 save chances. Just think, home-field advantage in the World Series may well come down to Fuentes against David Ortiz/Garret Anderson in the eighth or ninth. Thanks to Fuentes and the all-inclusive participation rule, there is reason for Rockies fans to watch the All-Star Game.
